INTERVIEW WITH DAVID SPEERS - SKY NEWS AM AGENDA - 8:40am
11 February 2009
Topic: Victorian Bushfires
SPEERS: Robert McClelland, thank you for joining us.
First up, I just wanted to check in on the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday of an additional $5 million. Is this going to be all for the immediate relief, or can we expect more funds to come from the Federal Government?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It's an ongoing situation, and there will certainly be more funds, unquestionably more funds, required and provided as part of the general reconstruction effort. But this is immediate funding to provide immediate relief.
SPEERS: Now, as far as Emergency Management Australia - which you oversee - what role is it playing here? I mean, when we look around the paddock that I'm in, we've got SES, we've got Country Fire Authority, police. What does Emergency Management Australia do in overseeing this sort of thing?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: It essentially locks in the federal agencies to work seamlessly with the state agencies.
So, they've been responsible for instance for drawing in the military personnel; also coordinating the social security response; the medical teams, ensuring there are adequate burns specialists available around Australia.
So they, while they work behind the scenes, have been doing an outstanding job I must say.
SPEERS: When you mention the Australian Federal Police, of course they have specialists here doing victim identification work, but, also I understand assisting in the investigation into the possibility of arson. What can you tell us about those investigations?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: Yes. All sides of politics I might say - and we're unquestionably at one in our general response - but specifically in a determination to do something against what appears to be arson attacks.
The Prime Minister has described them as mass murderers. We are regarding this as seriously as any investigation that has occurred - whether it's in respect to a terrorist attack or otherwise.
We have indicated to the Victorians that every available Federal Police resource that they require to investigate these heinous crimes - and they are precisely that - will be made available.
SPEERS: And what do those resources involve at the moment?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: At the moment they're victim identification and also forensics experts; obviously to detect things such as the source of the fire, the cause of the fire; primarily in that respect.
Obviously the detective work and the general investigations are being handled by the Victorian Police. It's a specialist expertise that the Federal Police are providing.
SPEERS: And are you confident that culprits will be found through the assistance of that specialist forensic work?
ROBERT MCCLELLAND: I'm about to have a briefing this morning, but I understand that already there are some hopeful indications overnight that at least one culprit, and, in another area, I think they're close to providing an identikit photo to release to the community. So hopefully, that will also obtain results.
But regrettably, it seems - and potentially in respect to one of the fires, where there was a number of deaths, it seems that arson may well be implicated. We're taking this very, very seriously indeed.
SPEERS: And obviously, they would be prosecuted under state law where I understand that it carries the equivalent of a manslaughter charge, up to 25 years in jail. This prospect has really stunned a lot of people, that some could deliberately do this.
Do you - can you give us any more information on what particular fires you are referring to there where you talked about a culprit, perhaps, being identified today.
ROBERT MCLELLAND: No, I don't know the name of the particular fire. In fact, I'll be finding that out very shortly. But I might say, more than simply manslaughter, it's my view - and I think the prosecutors will certainly look at it - if someone has lit a fire with reckless disregard for the safety of their fellow Australians, that may well sustain a charge of murder.
In the event of there being multiple deaths - as obviously there has occurred - every prospect they would be cumulative sentences. So these people may find themselves behind bars for the term of their natural life, quite literally.
So it's a very serious situation.
SPEERS: And of course when we talk about the Federal Police doing the victim identification work, as well, do you know whether any of the officers involved in that work here were also involved in the Bali bombing examinations, and also, in the Asian tsunami?
I know the expertise flows from those incidents. But are we talking about the same individuals who covered - or who've been involved in work, that grisly task they do, in those particular tragedies?
ROBERT MCLELLAND: It's my understanding that a number of them are. There is unfortunately the fact that as a result of those events that you have referred to, we have world-leading expertise in this field. And it's my understanding that a number of those experts do have that experience. And again, I'm convinced we've got the world's best forensic experts assisting the Victorian Police.
SPEERS: However, we've heard from the state coroner here that some bodies may be so badly burnt they may not be able to be identified. Is that what you've been told as well?
ROBERT MCLELLAND: I haven't been told that, but regrettably, in the circumstances, that may well be the case. Obviously they will pinpoint addresses, and so forth, and motor vehicles, and try and work back through there. But again, these people have expertise, including the ability to check for DNA and so forth.
And again, I think the technology that is available they will be on top of, and obviously, we hope that everyone who suffered a loss can have closure.
COMPERE: All right, Attorney-General Robert McClelland, we'll leave it there, but thank you very much for joining us.
ROBERT MCLELLAND: That's my pleasure. Thank you.
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